Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, is to collaborate with the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to improve the turnaround time for passport collection.
The Postmaster General of the Federation, Adeyemi Sunday Adepoju on Thursday announced the collaboration when he led Management on a working visit to the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura- Ola Adepoju, at the Service Command Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja.
The Postmaster General said the collaboration became necessary due to the development of an integrated service delivery model by NIPOST that incorporates various government services and information which will be provided to citizens in a one-stop shop environment using several channels to meet different needs of the citizens at selected Post office locations Nationwide.
With this proposal, NIS will utilize NIPOST infrastructure for the collection of Passports and adopt the postal network as an e-fulfilment centre for enhancing the digital economy.
He added that the roles and responsibilities of the development are for a sustainable and integrated framework for the process of e- Passport, provide courier services and address verification validation that will harmonize the various e-government initiative in the agency, as well as consolidate NIPOST efforts to reaffirm productivity synergy with NIS.
In her response, The Ag. CG commended the Management of NIPOST on the laudable development of an Address Verification System as a major breakthrough for identity management, indicating that NIPOST AVS is a major initiative for forensic crime management,
She lauded NIPOST for developing a standardized Digital Postcode System to aid the agency in issuing Nigerian Passports, adding that the service would continue to explore ways and cultivate strategic partnerships to help her fulfil her mandate to Nigerians.
According to her, the collaboration will address the issues facing Nigerians while seeking to register for passports, reduce the waiting period before biometric data capture, and make Passport processing seamless and faster.
The Postmaster General and the Ag. CG agreed to develop a framework for the working relationship in due course.
